Chapter Text
The Mostro Lounge was bustling as always with even the Leech twins helping out the other students, some unusual people where there though the most odd was Grimm, who was alone and without his handler, Yuu who was in the VIP section of the Lounge. Now at hearing that, most would think that Yuu and Azul were creating a contract but, the young men were actually having a different conversation. Azul had asked Yuu for help. Azul had decided to ask the ramshackle resident for some insight due to what happened or well... what Yuu stopped when Azul was nearing his overblot, when he was attempting to make a deal with Kingscholar, though the deal was never going to go though even before he asked with a threat to Leona by the Ramshackle residents that they would annoy him every night if he wouldn't help. Azul found Yuu's more bold and straightforward ideas interesting and asked him to come by, no strings attached or any contracts formed, well for time being.... There was also another aspect about Yuu that made Azul want to have a one on one conversation with Yuu, his experiences with his world, from what Azul had heard, his world was somewhat similar to theirs though highly different (Yuu's world lack of magic was a main one) and he wanted a different look at problems, a non magical one.
So that's how Yuu and Azul was currently in the VIP section of the Lounge. Yuu was drinking some tea that was just brought in by the Leech twins before they went back to work, though Azul noticed that the young man was tired, his short black hair was ruffled and looked like it hadn't been brushed (which it usually was), He has new found bags under his eyes and his uniform wasn't as pristine and smart as it usually is, his blazer was open and his waist coat had a few undone buttons, the bow tied to his arm (similar if not exactly like Grimm's) was one sided. Azul noted the younger's tiredness as it could be helpful, once the source was revealed, 'you needed to be able to take good notice of the slightest changes to be good at business and forming contracts' he thought with a slight smirk. Azul then got back to looking at the bookshelves surrounding the tables in the VIP section, trying to find what he was going to show Yuu, though after a second or two he found it and put it on the table, it was the floor plans for the Mostro Lounge.
"Here's what I wanted you too look at" Azul said sitting down, opposite Yuu, who put his tea down and put all of his focus onto the man and the plans on the table. "As you probably know the Mostro Lounge is doing quite well, though we have plans to expand. So I was wondering if you had any possible ideas that could improve the lounge" He said with a devilish smile, Azul had already asked most of the Octavinelle dorm members and frequent customers and non-Octavinelle workers for ideas though most of them we're either too big and would fail or were highly odd and would scare away customers. Yuu sighed and gave a small look at the floor plans, he could at least give it a look and give his two cents, even if Yuu wanted to walk out (which he did) he would have to deal with Grimm who was annoying Yuu a lot today, getting into fights with Ace and others, and complaining about Crowley, which was the usual. But today Yuu just too tired to deal with the cat and would rather deal with Azul than him.
Yuu looked at the floor plan, there was the bar, the lounge area with the chairs and tables, the aquarium at the back and the staircase by the entrance. There wasn't a lot of area to work with Yuu pondered and wondered what ideas he could have though he then saw something. "Here" Yuu said, pointing to an area by the stairs, though on the righthand side of the railing, where more stairs and a door were though nothing else was there, 'there...' Azul mused, wondering what Yuu was going to ask or say, that area was quite finicky to work with seeing that nothing could be placed there with the stairs there and a door was there for the staff. "What exactly is the door for, if you don't mind" Yuu asked with Azul explaining "Well it's for the staff members, it's for staff to come in on and go out for shifts, it's only used at certain times in the day" "Hmmm...." Yuu said, deep in thought "Could someone be there for entertainment?" Yuu said, the idea was very broad and Azul was wondering where this was going though Yuu quickly followed up "Perhaps a singer, singing songs chosen by the Lounge, seeing as it has that particular feel it could enhance the general feel and people would want to stay to hear the song".
'A singer?' Azul thought, he initially thought Yuu was going to say juggler or something like that with his wording. Though Azul feels like this idea was one of the best he's heard, a singer would help the general mood that the lounge had and people would want to stay to hear a song, though there was the factor that a singer could bring customers into the lounge, a destress from a tired day of school work. "Though what about pay? we are trying to gain not decrease our revenue, even just one day of this singer could lose us money" Azul asked, probing Yuu for more about this idea, this seeming surprising Yuu who took a sip of his tea to think before replying "Give them something they want that's not Thaumarks, perhaps a free drink or food for their services or do an odd job for them". This reply did somewhat surprise Azul, giving this singer what they need to be done instead of Thaumarks is an idea he hadn't thought of, and it was practically what he is doing with his contracts, doing odd jobs.
Though as good as the idea was shaping to be, there was one problem: who would be the singer? There was no one in Octavinelle in particular who had a rather good singing voice, Azul didn't want to go to the music club as they A: don't do the correct style of music that fits the Lounge B: the club members didn't really do that much music playing and just chilled in the club room. Then Azul's thoughts was brought to the young man opposite him, during Yuu's time at Octavinelle (Initially with the two Heartstabyul freshmen, the Savanaclaw freshmen and Grimm and secondly after the whole mess was done with Jade and Floyd serving them), Yuu was singing to the song at the Lounge, though it was less singing words but more singing "Do-do-do~" to the song though he sung the correct pitch of the notes and held them for the correct time. As well as during their time at Scarabia, during the marches they had to do, Yuu did the same thing, singing and snapping his fingers to keep himself in beat and also to keep his mind off of the walk and heat. Yuu was a good candidate, he was a good singer and Azul had something he could give him which probably didn't cost Thaumarks: A good night of sleep.
"Though that all sounds good, we don't have a singer at out disposal... though Yuu, you're good at singing aren't you?" Azul said in a 'I know you can sing well don't even think of disagreeing with me' tone. Yuu, who was having another sip of his tea, looked at Azul a bit shocked, as if Azul just told Yuu his secret, before coughing slightly and replying "y-yeah I guess..." with his eyes on Azul's face, who was smirking at Yuu. Azul then stood up before going to a particular section of his bookcase's and pulled out a folder with some loose paper, he picked one out before putting the folder back and sitting back down and putting the sheet in front of Yuu. It was a sheet of music with the title: Poor Unfortunate Souls, it had music notes as well as words on it, Yuu picked it up and looked to Azul who's grin was still on his face, "Could I have a performance Yuu?" Azul asked looking at Yuu. Yuu still wagered just waking out before giving it more thought and deciding to do this for him, Yuu could sit here and sing for Azul and possibly be a singer at the Mostro Lounge or walk out and drag Grimm back to their dorm where they might run into Crowley, which Yuu thought was the worst option and made his decision.
"Okay I'll sing, where do you want me to sing from and too?" he asked, looking at the lyrics and reading through them, keeping the beat with his finger tapping on his leg with the other one holding the paper "Just from the top, I'll tell you when to end" He said, moving forward in his chair, somewhat excited to hear Yuu sing. Yuu sighed as he was mentally preparing himself, it wasn't everyday that he sang. Yuu had cleared his throat and began humming the section before any lyrics, before he started...
"I admit that in the past I've been a nas~ty"
Azul was a good bit shocked at the lower tone Yuu sang, seeing as his voice was a bit higher and he was singing it without any music.
"They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch"
He gave some good emotion during the "Well, a witch" section, which Azul noted that Yuu had a bit of a smile on his face.
"I've mended all my ways, Repented, seen the light and made a switch" "True? Yes"
Yuu kept the rhythm and even said the ending parts of "True? Yes" slow and oddly calming so he was ready for the next verse.
"And I fortunately know a little magic~"
Yuu held onto that C and Azul was very impressed with Yuu's performance, he wanted to stop him though he was singing it well it was like a trance
"It's a talent that I always have possessed"
Azul was very focused on Yuu and his singing that he didn't notice the Leech twins were by the door and their heads had just poked though the door (which was thankfully oiled regularly so it didn't make a sound). Floyd thought about sneaking up on Yuu though Jade stopped him and just told him to listen... His time to scare Yuu will come soon.
" And dear lady, please don't laugh, I use it on behalf"
"Of the miserable, lonely and depressed (pathetic)"
Azul and the twins had never seen Yuu act prideful or better than anyone, so they have never seen him call anyone Miserable, lonely, depressed or pathetic. But damn they with he did use it more, especially in that tone with a small evil smirk on his face. Though they all knew what was upcoming, the main charm of the song: the chorus.
" Po~or Unfortunate Souls~"
The words rolled off of Yu's scarily well as if he was waiting his whole life to say those three words, in a little bit of a louder and prouder voice.
"In pain, in need"
"This one longing to be thinner"
"That one wants to get the girl"
"And do I help them? yes, indeed"
The Octavinelle boys knew that Yuu wasn't like this normally but he seamed like a different person, a possessive and manipulative person who only told half truths. But seeing Yuu in this light... well they weren't going to turn it down.
"Those Poor Unfortunate Souls~"
Yuu again mustered up all he could and boasted as much as he could, this section was important, and he needed to show it, so it could be heard
"So sad, so True"
"They come flocking to my cauldron"
"Crying "Spells, Ursula, Please!""
"And I help them? yes I do.
Azul and the boys were enjoying it, though Azul had decided he'd heard enough "That's enough Yuu" Yuu, who had somewhat forgotten he was in the Mostro Lounge, in the VIP section with Azul. "Ah, well... how was that?" Yuu asked somewhat nervous, he know that Azul had a great voice from what he heard, was Azul unsatisfied? "Well Yuu... You're performance was-" "That was amazing Shrimpy!" Floyd butted in, springing up from behind Yuu's chair and began hugging Yuu around his neck, which made Yuu yelp, Jade looked at Yuu and said "That was very good, perhaps you should be in a music club?". Azul was shocked by the two twins as he hadn't seen them come in "Floyd... air..." Yuu said pointing to his neck who then let go, "As I was saying" Azul said pushing up his glasses "Your performance was really good, I'm surprised you haven't joint the music club yet" he finished, Yuu blushed at the compliment "Well... I did take singing lessons back home... though I haven't joined a club as I'm a bit busy with everything" he explains the everything means literally everything from having to deal with Grimm to Crowley and the overblot cases. "Well... how about becoming the singer for the Lounge?" Azul said with a grin on his face though the twins had a confused look on their faces "shrimy becoming a singer?" Floyd said completely confused "For the Lounge?" Jade said after, with less confusion, Azul gave them a look of 'I'll explain later' and look back to Yuu.
Yuu was contemplating it though decided to ask Azul some questions "What about payment? How are you going to pay me?" Yuu had enough Thaumarks and didn't need food or drink from the Lounge though he could need something from Azul, unfortunately. "Well Yuu, it seams that you haven't been sleeping well lately" Azul said "Perhaps we can help you with that?" He ended that with a devilish grin. If Yuu had to be serious, he did need that. Though there is a issue to why he isn't sleeping, Yuu began with a sigh "I usually sleep well, though Crowley has been coming into the doors at night for the last week and have been giving me and Grimm tasks to do in the middle of the night. He came in tonight and gave us a task at 2am and we didn't get any sleep after that" he explained. The Octavinelle boys just started at Yuu, they knew he dealt with Crowley a good percentage of the time but they didn't know to this degree, "So, what you're saying..." Jade started, he had gotten the basic gist of the conversation "Is if we take care of Crowley's tasks and you get some sleep, you'll sing at the Lounge" Yuu nodded to what he said, that sounded nice, no Crowley for a good amount of time.
"We'll sort out the time at a later date and all of the preparations out soon, one of these two-" Azul said, pointing to the twins who were still by you "Will bring you back here to sort out the fine details", "I want to hear all of the details though" Yuu said putting emphasis on the all, thinking about how sneaky can be with his Contracts. Floyd decided to speak up "Don't worry Shrimpy! I'll bring you back here" he said flashing his sharp teeth and decided to hug him again and actually pulled him out of his chair and into the air. Yuu sighed before looking to Azul "If that's all" Yuu said not really caring that he was being carried by Floyd, "That is" Azul said "I'll hopefully be seeing you soon" he ended with a grin, "C'mon Shrimpy! Earless Seal has been causing a fuss without you" Floyd said carrying Yuu out of the room who's face morphed into a very tired expression just hearing Grimm's nickname.
"How well do you think this will turn out?" Jade asked Azul, picking up Yuu's cup of tea that he finished. Azul looked at the music sheet he gave Yuu which was now on the table, and gave a small smile, which didn't have anything behind it "I think" he began "It will turn out surprising well".